Hi everyone,

So I decided to get a webcam. Being a bit naïve I simply walked into the nearest store and bought the cheapest, knowing that I could return it if I couldn't make it work. After just plugging it and seeing that - surprisingly - it didn't quite function properly (at all), I thought about asking you for advice. The few last times I had problems and tried fixing them by myself I ended up making threads about my Mandriva Free 2008 not working at all, so this time I'll ask for help beforehand.

The question is: what to buy and how to make it work? I only need, if possible, to be able to have webcam discussions via MSN. The people I was going to chat with are using Windows Live Messenger. I'm using Kopete for the time being, but I could try another program. Did someone manage to make such things work?

Simply put, any recommendations?


Thanks,

Tapksa

I also have a similar problem. Both my ultra-cheap webcams (USB connection) don't work with my IBM X30 laptop, running MDV 2008.1. At least nothing happens when I plug them in.

Make sure you have this file installed: dkms-gspcav1

It's to make webcams work.

Kieth

Often you can get a webcam to work just by installing the appropriate driver package (e.g. dkms-gspcav1 , as mentioned above, but there are others too). The only foolproof way to know what package you need is to check the USB ID of the camera. Please plug it in, run:

lsusb

at a console as root, and post the result here. Then I can find out easily if your camera is supported and, if so, what driver you need to install. Thanks.

Is there an up-to-date list of well-supported webcams? For those who haven't bought one yet but want to make sure that it is likely to work ok with Mandriva?
Is there any particular jargon to look out for, eg I read somewhere about UVC, a kind of universal standard, is that popular / supported / worth looking out for?

Mine says:

And the second one:

Here's the current listed driver support:
Gspca/Spca5xx

Linux UVC driver

Working Webcams With PWC

My camera is Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX, and lsusb gives:

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 046d:c045 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 046d:08d7 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

Yossarian and Tapksa, both your cameras are supported by gspcav1. Try this:

urpmi kernel-`uname -r |cut -d- -f2`-devel-latest kernel-`uname -r | cut -d- -f2`-devel-`uname -r | cut -d- -f1`
urpmi dkms-gspcav1

then plug in your camera and see if it works.

I'm not sure it helped.

When I test my two cameras in Skype (one at a time, of course), I see the light turning on, but there is no picture on the screen. Weird. How else can I check if they are working?

I don't have a web cam, and I'm not sure if I want one.

Anyway, here's some info on the mandrivaclub.com/xwiki that may help you. It suggest testing them with camstream.

I guess it's time for me to give up already since neither aMSN, Kopete or Mercury could send my webcam to a contact. I believe I installed the required drivers. So seeing myself works fine but when I try to start a webcam discussion, nothing seems to happen.

If someone has any idea what I should do, please help. Thank you all for your help anyway.

-Tapksa

If you're using 3D desktop, it can cause the same problem as with video playback - best to turn it off at least until you're sure everything's working.

I'd use Cheese to test the cam.

On a related theme - any recommended software to use for the shiny new webcam?
In particular video-phoning, and it should be able to connect to a gratis (or preferably free) windows client too.
Skype ? Ekiga ? Wengophone ?
Anybody got any experience with these?

Skype if your friends use Skype, otherwise Ekiga, which can interoperate with any other SIP client (there are several free ones for Windows).

Does that mean the problem with Skype and 2008.1 has been fixed? From what I read on the errata, with the workaround you either get no sound in Skype, or no sound from any other application whenever Skype is running.

Skype would have the advantage of being encrypted (or at least, apparently encrypted) and seems to perform well, but the disadvantage of being closed source :/

Or maybe it's been fixed in the forthcoming 2009 ?